Big night out? How to know when it's safe to drive the morning after

Don't get caught out

04 Sep 2017

Monday 4 September 2017

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TV presenter Kirsty Gallacher has made headlines after pleading guilty to drink-driving; she was found to be three times the over the legal limit while driving the morning after a night out with friends.

Research by road safety charity Brake found that one in five drivers admit to driving the morning after a heavy night of drinking.

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But many people don't realise that just because you’ve been to sleep, it doesn’t mean you’re no longer affected by alcohol. And those who wouldn't dream of driving home after a night boozing in the pub don't recognise the influence of alcohol on their body next day.

Whether it’s OK to drive the morning after a big night out depends on how much you’ve drunk – and if you’ve left enough time for your system to get rid of the alcohol.

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According to Drinkaware the amount of alcohol still in your bloodstream depends on three things:

- The number of units you have drunk- The period of time over which you consumed it- The speed at which your body processes the alcohol in your body

In general, alcohol is removed from the blood at the rate of about one unit an hour. But this varies from person to person depending on your size - and it's not the same every time you drink. It can be affected by how much food you’ve eaten; the state of your liver, and your metabolism (how quickly or slowly your body turns food into energy).

There’s NOTHING you can do to speed up the rate alcohol leaves your system. Drinking coffee or having a cold shower may make you feel better but they have NO effect on the amount of alcohol that has been eliminated from your bloodstream.

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There is no fool-proof way to know when you are safe to drive so the advice is if you are drinking then leave your car at home and make alternative arrangements to get home that night or the next day. However Brake and the Morning After campaign have created this calculator to give you a rough idea of when you are safe to drive the next day.

If you know you have to drive the day after a night out, Drinkaware advises:- Opt for lower strength drinks: 4% ABV or lower beer; 12% ABV or lower wine; single spirit measures rather than doubles- Alternate the alcoholic drinks you do have with soft drinks or water- Stop drinking alcohol well before the end of the night so your body has time to process the alcohol before the following morning